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A review by elnelson
The Outsorcerer's Apprentice by Tom Holt
3.0
What would happen if you asked a bemused economist to narrate and examine your favorite childhood fairytales? Well, I have a feeling it would look something like The Outsorcerer’s Apprentice. For years, a realm of magical creatures have been going about their business without any regard for rationality or basic market economics until a young woodcutter’s daughter starts realizing opportunities for arbitrage, a knight starts examining dragon populations, a goblin makes some un-goblin like decisions, and a young man starts an adventure that was never meant to be, well, quite so adventurous.
While I was excited by the premise of the Outsorcerer’s Apprentice, the wacky jokes and playful humor failed to get to a deeper level of emotionality, leading to Terry Pratchett-esque humor without the deeper bedrock of emotional depth. Holt writes some truly fun mash-ups of fantastical creatures running some of the most amusing corporate schemes, but after awhile, it feels a bit like reading a string of stand-up acts rather than a cohesive plot. For clever book to lighten your mind before bed, this might be a gem, but don’t expect a riveting page-turner.
While I was excited by the premise of the Outsorcerer’s Apprentice, the wacky jokes and playful humor failed to get to a deeper level of emotionality, leading to Terry Pratchett-esque humor without the deeper bedrock of emotional depth. Holt writes some truly fun mash-ups of fantastical creatures running some of the most amusing corporate schemes, but after awhile, it feels a bit like reading a string of stand-up acts rather than a cohesive plot. For clever book to lighten your mind before bed, this might be a gem, but don’t expect a riveting page-turner.